Garage



B. F. FITCH Nov. 6, 1923.

GARAGE Filed July 6. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l y MTW@ Y B. F. FITCH Nov 6 1923.

GARAGE Filed July G, 1921 5 sheets-Sheet Z fc w ,M \\M/\\\\\ ww,

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- B. F. FITCH GARAGE Filed July 6. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNHTEU STATES lama BENJAMIN F. FITCH, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

GARAGE.

Application filed July 6, 1921.

T n?? lil-zom it may concern.'

Be it known that I. BENJAUIN l". FITCH. a citizen of the llnited States. residing at Evanston. in the county of (look and State of Illinois. have invented ai certain new and useful lmproven'ient in Garages. of which the following is a full. clear. and exact dcscription. reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automobile garages and is primarily concerned with the provision of a multiple story garage. wherein the automobiles are driven by their own power from one story to another.

Automobile garages embodying a plurality of stories for parking spaces. have heretofore been employed in connection with a spiral ramp for enabling ears to be driven by their own power from one floor to another. I have found however` that the spiral ramp requires considerable waste Hoor space and in addition. necessitates a special building construction which from an economic viewpoint is greatly in excess of a building having level floors with provision for floor supporting columns and a freight elevator therein. Then elevators are einployed. there is always more or less danger as well as considerable expense associated with the. operation thereof. Accordingly it is desirable to construct a multiple story garage wherein elevators are dispensed with. and wherein the space hitherto required for building columns and spiral driveway is available for storage purposes.

One of the objects of my invention therefore is the provision of such a garage. wherein cars may be quickly propelled by their own power. up a ramp. having a low percentage of grade, together with the provision of storage spaces or stalls in connection with the ramp. whereby the space required as a runway between the rows of stalls is not any greater than the area of the runway space ordinarily employed on a flat deck storage Hoor. ln this connection` my invention contemplates the provision of a multiple floor garage which may be conveniently constructed on a comparatively narrow frontage so that the garage may be erected in localities where the realty represents a considerable portion of the investment and wherein the use of columns is dispensed with to olitain the full advantage of floor space.

Another object is the provision of a garage wherein the parking spaces or stalls Serial No. 482,664.

are positioned obliquely to the runway. By providing oblique parking spaces the width of the runway may be reduced. and the ease for entering and leaving such parking spaces may be simultaneously increased. Furthermore` the provision of a narrow runway tends to reduce the total width of the garage and accordingly to reduce the realty of the frontage required.

Still another object is the construct-ion of a garage wherein the runways between adjacent rows of stalls are so arranged. that the line of traffic extends in only one direction from the entrance to the exit point. An advantage of this arrangement is that no extra space need be provided for one car passing another. and that there is no danger of collision between incoming and outgoing cars.

Further features include the provision of a. building wherein the supporting columns may be incorporated in the dividing walls or partitions, whereby the ramps may be effectively supported and the runways may be left unobstructed.

In carrying out the above objects, my invention contemplates the provision of a building wherein the storage floors themselves constitute ramps leading from one end to the other of the building; the various ramps being so arranged that traffic extends in only one direction between the rows of storage spaces. ln this connection. my invention provides sufficient space for enabling the cars to be readily positioned in t-he runway. or moved therefrom, Without obstructing the traffic in the main runways and without necessitating a passageway greater than the length of the average car.

The preferred form for accomplishing the above objects. will be more fully set forth in the 1following description. which relates to the drawings` and the essential charm-teristics will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings. F ig. l is a perspective of a building having a portion of the walls and floors broken away to show the construction of a garage embodying features of my invention: Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the preferred arrangement of the ramps and stalls: Fig. 3 an elevation showing a door construction which maybe employed in connection-with my invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing an interior arrangement of the stalls which may be `employed in a garage of this character.

' roof, and which may be employed in addition to the walls dividing the ramps into stalls as a support for the ramps in a manner which will be hereinafter described. That portion of the building on one side of the dividing wall 14, is arranged to receive inbound traffic, and that portion on the other side of the wall is arranged to receive outbound trac; there being suitable entrance and exit doors in the front wall, as at 15 and 16, respectively.

Referring now to the inbound sections, l provide a wall 17 which extends parallel to the dividing wall 14 and is positioned mid-way between the walls 13 and 14. lioad bearing stall walls 9 are arranged to carry part of the load of the tloors'or ramps above. Between the walls 14 and 1T. a ramp 18 leads from the entrance door 15 to a horizontal connecting runway 19 at the other end of the building. This connecting runway is it-ioned mid-way between what would ordinarily be the first and second floors and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is arranged to extend transversely of the build ing and between the walls 12 and 13. Ff'- tending upwardly from the runway 19, l provide another ramp 20 which is positioned between the walls 13 and 17 and is arranged to be connected with a level runway 21 on the forward end of the building. This runway 21 also extends between the walls 12 and 18 but is positioned at a point where the second door would normally be placed in a building. The ramps indicated. provide for movement of a car, an amount equivalent to twice the length of the building to bring it to a level oi the runway 21. Assuming that the length of the building is 200 feet and that the height of the runway 21 is 10 feet above the ground, then the grade of the ramp is approximately 25%,; which grade is almost a negligible quantity. so far as power consumption is concerned.

@n the outbound section of the building, l provide a ramp 22 which is positioned in a plane with the ramp 18 and which is arranged to extend from the exit 16 to the runway 19. Similarly, l provide a wall 23 which divides the out-bound Section into two parts; one part being occupied with a ramp leading upwardly from the iront of the building and the other being occupied aar/enea by a ramp as at 24, leading downwardly troni the front of the building. Stall walls H divide the ramps into sections and are arranged, like the stall walls 9, to carry part of the load of the ramp floors above. ln Fig. 2 the ranip 24 is shown as extending between the runways 21 and 19 positioned at the `front and rear respectively of the building. The ramps 24 and 20 are accordingly positioned in the same plane and are joined at each end by the runways 19 and 21.

lVhile l have described my invention in connection with a building having only two level mnways 19 and 21` it will be understood that these are merely illustrative of what might be determined one floor, and that other floors may be constructed as shown in Fig. 1 bv providing ramps which are positioned in a parallel plane to those described as at 24a, 241", etc., and which are connected by transverse runways positioned in planes parallel to the planes 19 and 21 but separated therefrom by a. distance equivalent to the predetermined dista-nce between the adjacent lioors. The runways above the passageways 19 and 20 may be designated 19, 19", 20a, 20h, etc.

To provide storage or parking spaces, l prefer to construct. each ramp in such manner that a runway extends along the middle portion thereof and to so arrange the stall walls at either side of the runway, that the cars may be readily parked without interfering with the tratic on the ramp. ln Fig. 2. the dotted arrows indicate the iii-bound direction of travel ras leading up the ramp 18, then to the level runway 19, around the end of the wall 17, and then up the ramp 2() to the horizontal runway 21. The arrangement ot stalls on both the ramps 18 and 2O may be such that a car must be backed into the desired stall while it is mov ing in a descending direction.

The angle at which the stall walls are positioned is such as to allow the cars to be ymoved with ease between the stall walls and to and from the runway without necessitating a runway having a width. greater than is necessary for one-way traitic. The value oi" positioning the stall walls obliquely to the runway lies in the tact, that a driver may enter or leave any of the stalls by siinply turning the car through an angle, which is materially less than one-fourth ot aoircle; and that runways may accordingly be reduced in width. whereby a saving in the total width of a building is etici-ted.

'On the out-bound side of the building, the` stall walls are positioned similarly to those on the in-bound side. These stalls on the out-bound side are shown, however` as being inclined in a direction opposite to the direction of travel in the runway so that it is necessary to position the cars in the stalls by driving them forwardly. The arrangement lll) of stalls shown, employs the force of gravity for holding the cars within the stalls so that in case the brakes on any parked car should be accidently released. the vertical walls act as abntments to hold the cars securely in position. I have shown eacih stall as having a. floor which is in the same plane with the driveway on the ramp. The slope of the ramp ordinarily is not greatcnough to prohibit the parking of the cars but if desired. the fioor of each stall may be constructed so that the car rests upon a floor which is positioned in a horizontal plane.

To drive a car to a position adjacent any of the, stalls on the outer ramps in the outbound section, it. is necessary to travel up the ramps 18 and 20. then across the runway 21 through a doorway 3() in the wall 14 and then down the ramp 24. However, if it is desired to utilize a stall on the ramp 22 then it is only necessary to ascend the ramp 18, then to travel on thc level runway 19 through a doorway 31 in the wall 14 and then down the ramp 22.

The construction of the stalls is capable of considerable modiicat ion. In Figs. 2 and l3,-the pal'king spaces between the solid partitions 8 and 9 are shown to enclose a space on the inner corner of the stall for various purposes such as for a locker 32; washbowl 33, and workbench 34. In Fig. 3. I have shown the stalls as heilig provided with a doorway, preferably of the overhead rolled t pe; the two positions of the door, namely, cl'osed and open, being shown at 35 and 36 respectively. A garage of this character lends itself to many auxiliary features which contribute to the protection and comfort of the lessee... Some of the features have been shown and described but there are others which will be immediately suggested to the mind of the ordinary observer, such'. for instance as the privacy afforded the lessee, protection against tire damage from adjacent cars. damage due to carelessness in manuevcring the vehicles of adjacent lessees when entering or leaving the allotted garage spaces, etc.

Assuming that it is desired to position a carin stall (i it is necessary tor the driver to bring the car up the ramp 18 across level runway 19, then up the -ramp 20 until he is opposite the desired stall, whereupon the car is permitted to back dow the grade and into the storage space. If the stall in ques; tion is positioned on what might be termed the fourth floor and directly above the stall mGr on the first floor. then the driver would continue up the ramp 20 across runway 21, and then up the ramps positioned directly above the ramps 18 and 20 until the desired stall is attained.

To remove the car from stall G one drives up the ramp 20, then across ramp 21 to the outermost ram'p on the opposite side of the building down to the runway 19 and thence down the exit ramp 22. For any stall positioned in vertical alignment with stall it is necessary. irrespective of the floor, or ramp. on which the car is located, to drive the car up the ramp until the next level runway is reached. whereupon the car may be'driven across to the out-bound section and thencx down to the exit.

If it is desired to position a car in stall Z, and such a stall is assumed to be on the ramp 24, which ramp is positioned on what might be called the first floor. then the driver ascends ramps 18 aml 20. and travels across the runway 21 and then descends the ramp 24 and drives forwardly into the desired stall. Similarly, to position a (ar in any stall located on a floor above the ramp 24 one drives the car up the inbound side to t-he runway at the top of the ramp in question and then descends to the desired stall. On removing the car from the stall in the upper stores. it is. of course obvious, that the car will Vfollow the direction indicated by the full line arrows down the ramps 24 and 22 and thence out the exit 1G. From the foregoing description, it will be. seen that I have provided a garage which may be readily constructed in congested business districts by employing a building having comparatively narrow frontage while obtaining a maximum floor space for a given area of land by eliminating all floor supporting` columns a-nd by arranging individual'stall walls in such a manner as to greatly decrease the necessary runway spaces. Furthermore. it will be seen that I have provided a garage wherein the cars may be propelled, by their own power, from one level to another and that the space provided for parking the cars leads directly off the ramps. An advantage of such constrution is that Width employed for driveways is materially less than the width ordinarily required for runways between rows of stored cars on a fiat storage space. Another advantage of my invention is that the stalls are easy of access and egress and are well adapted for receiving appliances which provide for the comfort of the customer.

Having thus described my invention, I claim;

' 1. A vgarage having a plurality of ramps inc-lining in opposite directions and means on the ramps defining diagonal parking spaces and extending in such direction that the floor of the parking space inclines upv wardly toward the entrance ttrsuch space. 2. A garage comprising a rectangular building having a plurality of ramps therein, each of said ramps having parking spaces thereon, a driveway extending longitudinally of each ramp. and parking spaces leading from each of the driveways and inclined at an angle thereto, the parking,r spaces being dened by diagonally extending walls and said inclination being sueli that a vehicle parlt'ed in any of said spares is normally urged by gravity away from the driveway.

3. garage having a plui'ality ot' ramps for ascending and descending tratlie. eaeli of said ramps having a driveway extending longitudinally thereof. and having a series of stalls leading from eat-l1 side of the driveway and defined by diagonally extending load snpportiiig walls. said stalls being disposed in the same plane as the driveway' and inelined thereto in sueli manner. that a veliiele on the. ascending ramps must be driven baekwardly to enter a stall. while a v'eliiele on the dest-ending ramps must be driven forwardly to enter a stall.

4. A garage comprising a rectangular building having a plurality of ramps therein. eaeh of said ramps having a driveway extending longitudinally and along the middle portion thereof. and walls leading obliquely from the driveway and defining parking stalls. eaeli ol' said stalls'liaving an individual closure member therefor.

5, .X garage eomprising a rectangular building having a plurality ot' ramps therein. each of said ramps having stalls thereon. a wall extending longitudinally of tliebnilding and dividing walls between the stalls and extending upwardly relative to the ramps. said stall being Jformed on two sides by the dividing walls and on the third side by the longitudinal wall. and a elosnre nieinber for the open end of said stall.

6. A garage comprising a rectangular building having incline tloorways. said building being divided into half sections by a centrally disposed longitudinal wall. and having intermediate parallel walls dividing the half sections into quarter sections. the floors o' the adjacent sections comprising one lialiA die building being inclined in opposite directions. a plurality ot evenly spaced vertically extending walls extending troni the longitudinal walls in the direction of tratlie flow on said inclined lloorways. said last named walls serving to divide the lloorways into set-tions or stalls and extending trom a floor below to a lloor above and toniprising load bearing members supporting the floors above,

T. A garage comprising a rectangular building. divided longitudinally by a central wall and intermediate walls spat-ed apart from the central wall to provide eompartments of the same width. said intermediate walls terminating short of the end walls of the building. the tloors of the adjacent eoinpartnients in eat-h half of the building being inclined in opposite diret-tions. a plurality ol load bearing walls dividing said lloorway into equally spat-ed compartments. said walls extending from the longitudinal walls in the direction of tratlie flow and terminating at traffic runways venti-ally loeated in each compartment.

ln testimony whereof. l hereunto allix my signature.

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